Top Games Made with Unreal Engine: Must-Play Titles

Unreal Engine has transformed the gaming sector, establishing itself as the preferred platform for developers globally. Unreal Engine, with its advanced capabilities and diverse tools, drives more than 7 million projects worldwide, ranging from AAA games to indie titles. The year 2024 saw a substantial increase in the Unreal Engine community, showcasing its rising popularity and usage. Unreal Engine's market share has grown to 16.3%, making it a leading force in game development​​​​. Delve into this article to explore the advantages of Unreal Engine, its notable characteristics, and examples of the best games created using this innovative technology.

Unreal Engine game development offers extensive tools for crafting lifelike, engaging environments on different platforms:

• desktop;
• mobile;
• console;
• VR, AR, and MR.

Back in 1998, Tim Sweeney from Epic Games introduced the world to the first Unreal Engine. They debuted it with the highly acclaimed first-person shooter, Unreal. The game's success prompted Epic Games to offer the engine to other developers, quickly cementing it as a top choice for creating realistic video games.

Sweeney designed UnrealScript as an object-oriented scripting language specifically for the first three generations of the Unreal Engine. In 2014, Unreal Engine 4 had a tremendous turn of events in its codebase changes to C++ upon release. This made updating, troubleshooting, customizing, and expanding much easier.

Another massive step taken by Unreal Engine 4 is the fact that the engine was given into the hands of the public for free; the one and only price was royalties for the games that were being sold and had earned some kind of profit. When the source code of Unreal Engine was given to the world, everything changed in terms of game development. This gave everyone willing to make a game the power: from a junior developer up to a seasoned C++ expert.

Source: https://wccftech.com/unreal-engine-5-3-download/

Unreal Engine developers benefit from a powerful and versatile platform that supports a broad range of game development needs. This flexibility and capability make it a top choice for creating visually stunning and technically advanced games.

Unreal Engine game development offers numerous benefits, making it a preferred choice for developers. One of the standout Unreal Engine features is its robust rendering engine, allowing developers to create incredibly detailed and lifelike visuals, essential for producing visually stunning games. Whether it's for AAA titles or indie projects, this capability ensures every game looks its best.

Another significant advantage is the Blueprint Visual Scripting System. Blueprint Unreal Engine has allowed game creators to bring complex game mechanics to life with little need for lots of programming knowledge. This will be really easy to get started. Rapid prototyping on Blueprint is a walk in the park. This really shines when used to help streamline their workflow by smaller teams or solo developers.

Another key factor in why is the Unreal Engine so popular is its cross-platform capabilities. The Unreal Engine contains deployment on PCs, consoles, mobile devices, and virtual reality systems. This way, it ensures that their games can be deployed to reach a wider group of people and can be compatible with many kinds of hardware specifications.

The transition to C++ as the Unreal game engine programming language with the release of Unreal Engine 4 in 2014 marked a significant improvement. This shift made the engine easier to upgrade, debug, customize, and expand, further enhancing its appeal to developers.

Unreal Engine assets are another notable advantage. The Unreal Engine marketplace offers a vast library of high-quality assets and plugins, allowing developers to integrate resources into their projects. This extensive ecosystem supports the creation of unique and polished games efficiently.

It provides access to a library of pre-built models, animations, and textures, among other elements, which saves development time and effort. The Marketplace provides all kinds of resources imaginable while making a game, from sound effects to blueprint setups and project templates, in order to help satiate every need for development. Furthermore, the community creates great diversity in content and shares it to propel collective creation and innovation in Unreal Engine creators.

Recent updates, such as the introduction of Unreal Engine 5, have brought groundbreaking features like Nanite and Lumen.

1. Nanite enables the development of highly detailed environments by using virtualized geometry, allowing developers to incorporate film-quality source art with billions of polygons without sacrificing performance in the engine.
2. Lumen provides an advanced global illumination system that improves lighting realism by delivering high-quality, real-time lighting that responds to environmental and light source changes, enhancing scene immersion and visual impact.

In Unreal Engine 5.4, other significant updates include Temporal Super Resolution (TSR) for improved stability and performance, the Neural Network Engine (NNE) for in-editor and runtime applications, and the Unreal Build Accelerator (UBA) for scalable distributed compilation solutions. These advancements, along with many others, push the boundaries of what is technically possible in game development.

In summary, the advantages of Unreal Engine include its advanced graphics capabilities, user-friendly Blueprint Unreal Engine system, cross-platform support, robust Unreal Engine assets library, and continuous updates. These Unreal Engine benefits make it a preferred choice for game development worldwide.

Unreal Engine game development has been the foundation for many successful and visually stunning titles. Here is a list of Unreal Engine games that have recently stood out for their innovation and impact.

Cyberpunk 2077, crafted by CD Projekt Red, stands as one of the most remarkable games created with Unreal Engine. The player lands in a dystopian future, playing V, a mercenary hustling to survive in the mega-power city hub of Night City amidst a labyrinth of sprawling back alleys and dimly lit neon lights. All these are facilitated by advanced technological augmentation, prevalent corporate corruption, and omnipresent threat in the urban environment. The mind-blowing graphics and incredibly sophisticated urban designs through Unreal Engine make this, by far, one of the best Unreal Engine games ever made.

Source: https://www.cyberpunk.net/en/news/49954/try-out-cyberpunk-2077-for-free

The Matrix Awakens is a tech demo and interactive experience that showcases the power of Unreal Engine 5. The way Epic Games has built this demo artifice emulates those boundaries between photorealistic visual rendering and real-time environments; the players really do get deep into the core of The Matrix, whereby movie scenes get melded with interactive features so that reality and a digital simulation come mixed. This project uses advanced features like Nanite and Lumen, demonstrating what future games that use Unreal Engine can achieve. This is a direction going forward in development in the Unreal Engine space: the creation of in-depth simulations bearing complex narratives.

Source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-matrix-awakens-unreal-engine-5-demo-might-make-you-wonder-whats-real/1100-6498843/

The action-adventure game Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice by Ninja Theory has received praise for its thorough exploration of mental health themes. In the game, the player assumes the role of Senua, the Celtic warrior, on the most challenging journey of her life through Viking Hell to gain access and reclaim the soul of her dead lover by conquering physical and mental enemies. This game is pretty beautiful in the visualization that hits the screen, complemented by real facial motions and a new level of sound production, making it even more realistic for an immersive experience.

Source: https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/6/16256058/hellblade-senuas-sacrifice-review

As one of the standout games made with Unreal Engine, it showcases how the engine can be utilized to generate emotionally engaging experiences and complex character models. This title is a prime example of games on Unreal Engine that push the boundaries of storytelling and technical excellence.

These games highlight the versatility of Unreal Engine. They demonstrate its power to create expansive, open-world environments and deliver rich, immersive narratives that keep players engaged.

Unreal Engine has recently powered numerous iconic games. This segment highlights the top games developed using Unreal Engine 4 and Unreal Engine 5, showcasing the software's remarkable versatility and strength in game development.

Unreal Engine 4 has been essential in developing many critically acclaimed video games. Below is a list of Unreal Engine 4 games that have had a notable influence.

Fortnite, created by Epic Games, is one of the most popular games created with Unreal Engine 4. It works on several platforms such as Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. It includes a battle royale mode where 100 players vie to be the final survivor, along with several other game modes.

Source: https://www.gearupbooster.com/blog/how-to-fix-fortnite-lag.html

Fortnite takes full advantage of Unreal Engine 4's capabilities, creating vast multiplayer arenas, intricate physics, and regular updates that keep the game fresh and exciting. Its vibrant graphics, consistent updates, and engaging gameplay have turned it into a cultural icon and a standout among Unreal Engine 4 games.

Street Fighter V, developed by Capcom, is a popular fighting game that showcases the capabilities of Unreal Game Dev. Released in February 2016, it is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows.

Source: https://www.streetfighter.com/5/en-us/

The game boasts a diverse lineup of characters, and every one of them has his or her fighting style and abilities. One-on-one battle unleashes all special moves and combos in defeating an opponent. With character textures, smooth animation brings this fighting game to life because of the robust animation tools, which even apply particle effects.

Ark: Survival Evolved is developed by Studio Wildcard and is one of the most interesting survival games based on the prehistoric world with lots of dinosaurs and ancient creatures. A player will have to live in this environment, gather resources, build shelters, and domesticate the different kinds of dinosaurs for survival. It is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux and also on home consoles like PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

Source: https://abstraction.games/game/ark-survival-evolved

The game uses advanced techniques for rendering and procedural generation to generate expansive, ever-changing landscapes teeming with interactive plants and animals. The game’s detailed environments and complex mechanics create an immersive survival experience, making it one of the standout games made in Unreal Engine 4.

The arrival of Unreal Engine 5 has ushered in a new era of game development due to its sophisticated features.

Remnant 2, developed by Gunfire Games, is a highly anticipated sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes. This action RPG immerses players in a post-apocalyptic world filled with deadly creatures and challenging environments. The game delivers stunning visuals and dynamic combat, showcasing the potential of games on Unreal Engine 5. Released in 2023, it is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.

Source: https://www.topgear.com/car-news/gaming/remnant-2-feels-playing-seven-games-once-and-all-them-are-great

Quantum Error, developed by TeamKill Media, is a cosmic horror first-person shooter. Players assume the role of firefighter Jacob Thomas, who must navigate a mysterious and terrifying facility to uncover dark secrets. The game leverages the advanced graphics and lighting features, providing an immersive and atmospheric experience that sets it apart as a leading title among Unreal Engine 5 games.

Source: https://www.androidcentral.com/quantum-errors-new-ps5-gameplay-demo-brings-scares

Black Myth: Wukong, developed by Game Science, is one of the highly anticipated games that use Unreal Engine 5. It is expected to be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.

Source: https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/what-to-do-in-paris/gaming/articles/305853-black-myth-wukong-summer-game-fest-trailer-and-release-date

This action RPG draws inspiration from the classic Chinese tale "Journey to the West" and features stunning visuals and seamless combat mechanics. The game showcases the potential of modern game design with Nanite and Lumen technologies to craft complex and lively virtual environments.

For those wondering what games use Unreal Engine 5, these titles provide a clear answer, demonstrating the engine's cutting-edge capabilities and why it is a preferred choice for modern game development.

The Unreal Engine Marketplace is an online store where developers can purchase and download assets like 3D models, animations, textures, sound effects, and blueprints. It provides free and paid assets from Epic Games and the community to help developers speed up their development process with pre-made resources.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a greatly awaited installment of the popular Metal Gear Solid 3. This new release delivers improved gameplay features and impressive graphics, using the most recent gaming technology innovations. It is due for release on the latest gaming consoles and PCs, offering an improved gaming experience to longtime fans and new adopters alike.

Kingdom Hearts 4 is the most recent addition to the Kingdom Hearts series. The game merges realistic graphics with cartoon graphics over a truly miraculous world within which Sora and his friends go through fresh, exciting journeys. This will be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, promising to keep gamers enthralled by both its story instinct and gamplay.

Unreal Engine is still on most game developers' lists because it promises great results, with advanced features and tools that promise extraordinarily visual experiences on many gaming platforms. It just shows the potential of this game engine for the creation of intrigues and engagingly pulse-pounding gaming experiences through recent games like Fortnite, Street Fighter V, Remnant 2, and Kingdom Hearts 4.

It's the perfect time to turn your game idea into reality with Unreal Engine game development company. With extensive experience and a stellar portfolio, Argentics is ready to bring your vision to life. Don’t wait—reach out today and start building the next big hit!